Merry Christmas

We wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!

Nice November

As the holidays are fast approaching, I have found myself once again behind in the blogging world. So, I thought I better catch up at least to November. Jeff felt the kids were deprived in October for not being able to carve pumpkins as the whole month flashed by us. So while I was out of town, he let them carve away! They had a great time and I was thrilled I didn't have to clean up the mess.



After such a crazy October I really needed to get away, so my annual sisters trip was perfect timing. The Gus girls try and get away once or twice a year to recharge our personal batteries. It is always a fun time with lots of chocolate, talk and just down time where you are only responsible for yourself! I remembered to take a picture this year! This is my sister Jennie, Mom Ann, sister Annalee, and of course me. My sister Julie is taking the picture and did not feel like being in the photo as she is expecting in 2011. My sisters in laws Cami and Kimi, had not arrived yet for the photo op.




November is also Tate's favorite month as he celebrated his 11th birthday! I loved his GQ poses over some of his birthday stash. He is growing up so fast and is almost as tall as I am. I can't believe he is in 5th grade! That is the same age that Tanner was when we made our big move to Box Elder County. Wow, time is starting to fly.



Speaking of Tanner, he had a great year in football and was awarded the offensive MVP player of the year. He played running back and then corner for the defense along with special teams. It was a real time consuming, tough, physical year for him but over all a great experience.




Next up was Tucker's health check up at PCMC for his heart, which included an echo and the regular tests. He is doing amazingly well! The doctors were please that his body has healed itself from past surgeries and that the heart valves that they were "watching" have really adapted to his body and they don't expect to see any problems in the near future. So, he doesn't have to have another PCMC check up for two years, plus no need for another echo for years to come!



Tommy lost a front tooth and the other one is hanging on by a thread. He was so excited that the tooth fairy would be coming to give him some money!



We were deeply saddened to have Jeff's niece, Crystal Burt, pass away from breast cancer in November. She was only in her 30's and leaves behind her husband and four children. She was such a good example with her positive and can do attitude. She just kept going no matter how hard it got. Her work put this up on their business sign out in West Haven. She will be deeply missed! Thank goodness we have the knowledge that we will see her again, free from cancer and pain, but until then there will always be a little sadness that she is not with us.



The rest of the pictures are from our photo shoot that didn't make our Christmas card, now I just have to try and get the cards out! What happened to the days that I had them out by the day after Thanksgiving? Oh yeah I didn't have five kids back then. I try to remember everything has it season and enjoy each moment as they are growing up so quick!

October Outdoors

Now hold on to your seats, a small miracle is happening. I am actually blogging and posting pictures about the month, the calendar shows we are still currently in! Yes, I am shocked myself! You all know it is because, we in Utah, celebrated Halloween a day early, because Halloween falls on Sunday this year. So, it sure helped to wrap up the month a day early.


Traditionally, I am a widow the month of October. It has always been that way since the day I said "I do." It doesn't matter if your having a baby, getting married or the kids teams are in the play offs. The minute the calendar says you can legally shoot somethings that moves, you don't see your hubby again until the hunts close.



This year was no exception however, Jeff had a work related trip the first week of October, so he really would be gone, it would seam, the entire month. So, I knew if I wanted to get any kind of family photo before Christmas it had to be taken ASAP. It was finally a beautiful fall day, so we grabbed my camera, my Mom as our photographer and headed out the door as the sun was starting to set with the mosquitoes nipping at our heels. These are some of the shots that did not make our Christmas card, but I thought they were fun just the same.



I absolutely love the first photo posted. We have an old aluminum barn near our home and I have seen several segments on "Studio 5" about finding different textures to use as your background for family pictures. Then add in some fun props to make it a classic picture. Tommy, holding that balloon with his sour face, is typical Tommy. He would not let me use it on our card, so I thought I would share it on our blog. I chuckle every time I see that picture. I think I am going to blow it up to a 11 X 17 and then make it black and white or sepia for some where in my house. Anyway I thought it was fun to share.



The morning after family pictures, Jeff left for his work trip to New Orleans. He was chosen to be part of a team to represent Utah in the National Operators Challenge. Teams from all over the country come and take part in mock situations to see who had the fastest times and know their stuff. Of course the goal is to take home the grand prize. He was also able to take in a little sight seeing, so I am sharing his photos.









The team always dresses in some fancy duds to go along with a theme. This year was no exception as they had a military theme. They won best uniform overall and 9th place over all with their times. Pretty good for some blue collar boys! He is the one on the far left.





Jeff returned home from his trip safe and sound, only to pack and walk out the door 15 hours later to pick up his Dad and head out for the Elk hunt. We did not join him as we still had football going on for Tanner and Tate. Jeff's family has hunted in the same spot for decades and this year was not exception. It is really beautiful country.









Jeff arrived home for a few days and then prepared to headed right back down for the deer hunt. The kids love going down for the hunting experience and really felt like they were getting the raw end of the deal for not being able to go. Usually UEA is the same weekend as the deer hunt, so they have gone in the past some years, but it didn't work out that way this year. So at the very, very, very last minute Jeff decided to take Tate, Tucker and Tommy with him. Tanner had to stay back as he had football and early morning Drivers Ed. Yes, can you believe he is that old? Tracen and I also stayed home as I have a rule that a child can not go until they are three. It is way too hard to have a toddler down camping in the middle of no where! I have been there and done that, and lets just say if you don't want me not to check into the loony bin..... It is better that I stay home.






This year they experienced some pretty harsh weather where they were in the trailer a lot of the time! Tate got some neat shots of nature in the high mountains. He is a budding photographer.
















I especially like these pictures he took of the snow falling from the sky, like stars, and the fresh snow sparking like in the movies. Good job Tate!






Yep, even though the weather was the worst they experienced in years, Jeff got one!



The bad weather enabled their travel plans to return home when expected, so the kids missed out on the school pumpkin walk. Darn it, we didn't have to carve pumpkins and make a big mess, get every one's pumpkins to school and have all the drama this year! Can you tell I was way upset that we didn't get to do it :)!




Instead we got to dress up for the trunk-er-treat in our area. It was pouring rain, so it was moved in doors, and the kids had a fun time and scored lots of candy. Tracen was "Mr. Potato Head", Tanner a "football player". Tate a "chic magnet", Tommy a "power ranger" and Tucker a runaway prisoner/ or referee however you interpret his costume.




Over all it was a fun holiday to go along with our busy month. I am sure this weekend the kids will have stomach aches from all the treats to go along with their head aches from having so much homework from missing so much school. Yes, Jeff will always still be hunting something, but the game is close to home and not nearly as time consuming. Oh well, October for me is about survival and we did it! Here is to next month!

Sweet September

OK, so I started this post over a week ago, but it has taken me this long just to finish things up. Something else always needs my attention and pulls me away from the blogging world. That is exactly why I am MIA on face book.


Fall is my favorite time of year. Nature at it's best with all the sun flowers and the corn stalks growing so tall waiting for harvest. We have a few birthdays this month and Jeff and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary. When we first moved up to this area, we lived in a little duplex while we were building our house. There were fields and fields of corn right off our exit. Seeing the corn fields and the openness of nature, made a calmness come over me amid all the stress that was going on in our lives. Since then, I love seeing the fields of corn. That is a big part of the agriculture in this area, so when I saw the sun flowers and the corn it was an added bonus. I just had to stop and take a picture. This is one of the reasons why September is so sweet.




For our adventures, we continued to see extended family through September. First, at a Gus reunion at Layton Park where we enjoyed the Indian summer weather. Everyone had fun visiting and the kids loved the play ground. Yes, I know Tracen was in desperate need for a hair cut in these pictures, but just wait for it.






















Next up we celebrated Jeff's Dad, Rey's, 80th birthday party! There was great food and lots of family to visit with. Rey has been looking forward to this birthday party and it was well deserved. He has been such a hard worker his entire life. He is like the energizer bunny that keeps going. He even ran his lawn business again this summer. I don't know how he does it. I know that is where Jeff gets his great work ethic from his parents.







Freshman Football for Tanner has been quite intense this year. It started clear back in the spring. It literally takes up most of his time. He has played really well and every game I pray that angels protect him from injury. There have been a lot of his team mates hurt this season. He plays "running back" and gets quite of few touch downs and he plays "corner" on the defensive side. Some of the players call him "crazy legs" as he zips in and out of traffic to avoid being tackled.


Of course Saturdays are filled with football games with Tate's Bear team. They have played really well this year and have made it to the play offs. Tate is getting a lot of playing time by playing "center" on the offense and "defensive end" on the defense. He rarely gets a break. He even recovered a fumble and ran it in for a touch down a few weeks back. Way to go Tate #90!







Tanner celebrated a birthday this month. I can't believe that he is 15! A mental count down has been going on in my head. One more year until he is driving, 4 more years until he graduates and goes on a mission! Crazy! People have always told me that kids grown up so fast before you know it they are adults. I didn't believe them as I felt like I was in the trenches of raising kids each day. However, each year Tanner gets older I believe it more. Tanner is such a great helper and over all good kid. We are so proud of him and the young man he is becoming.




Now to the other end of the spectrum. Tracen turned ONE this month! He is also just growing like a weed and sporting a new hair cut. Don't look too close as I am sure I missed a few spots. He took off walking at the first of the month and has been getting into everything! He wants to try and help, hence him trying his hand at vacuuming. We try to start them young at chores! I just wish they would all stay excited to help with chores as they got older.



He had fun digging into his little cakes and enjoys all the attention he gets from the whole family. He is such a cute little bugger that it is hard to get after him when you are trying to teach him right from wrong. He just flashes his pearly whites and it melts your heart.








Well that is it for September, I am finally caught up until Nov 1st. Then I will be behind again. It is the story of my life... a day late and a dollar short. Maybe someday I will feel like I am on top of life again, just in time for my kids to put me in an old folks home!